Process for facilitating the use of high lignin containing waste paper in the manufacture of paper products

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a rapid process for determining groundwood pulp derived from waste paper. The process comprises (a) preparing a pulp from recycle furnish to form secondary papermaking fiber; and (b) preparing an absorbent sheet from said secondary papermaking fiber, characterizing the initial color of the absorbent sheet and staining the absorbent sheet with a phloroglucinol stain, characterizing the color of the absorbent sheet and comparing the color of the stained sheet with the initial color and selecting a target paper product based on the comparison.  
     The process also comprises determining CIE, L*, a*, b* and brightness values. The delta L*, a*, b* and brightness values are used to produce products having commercially acceptable properties.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

[0001] This non-provisional application claims the benefit of the filingdate and is identical to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No.60/377,068, of the same title, filed May 1, 2002.

BACKGROUND FIELD OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

[0002] This application relates to recycling waste paper. Before wastepaper can be reused, it is subject to pulping, deinking and bleachingprocesses. The cost of the waste paper and bleaching processesconstitute a major part of the cost of the manufacturing cost for theproduction of paper products. Prior art methods controlled deinking andbleaching based upon the brightness of the incoming fiber with theattempt being made to deink and then bleach to a target brightnesslevel.

[0003] This approach is not very successful with waste paper gradescontaining substantial amounts of groundwood fiber, also known as highlignin containing fiber. In recent years, waste paper costs haveincreased and the availability of low lignin waste paper has decreased.Thus, to continue economic operations of the large mills, the relativelyplentiful high lignin containing waste paper and pulp feedstock has tobe employed, especially with respect to economy or away-from-home tissueand towel products.

[0004] We have discovered a spectrophotometric and staining processwhich can be utilized in a short period of time, usually less than tenminutes in a commercial setting to enable us to evaluate what deinkingand bleaching process to employ on the pulp. It should be noted that ourprocess does not register colorless chemically treated fibers asgroundwood. This is one shortcoming of the commonly used TAPPI MethodT236-OM-99 for determining kappa numbers. The TAPPI Method does notdistinguish between untreated and treated lignin in fibers and thereforeforces the use of excess chemical treatment for pulp which is suitablefor the manufacture of absorbent paper products. This is particularlyproblematic since bleached-chemithermomechanical pulp (BCTMP)constitutes a significant part of the recycle fiber supply. The TAPPIMethod also takes more than twice as long as the process claimed hereinto determine the amount of groundwood in the pulp. The TAPPI Method istherefore impractical for use in large scale paper making operations.

[0005] Illustrating the state-of-the-art are RE36,424 to Clement; U.S.Pat. No. 4,780,179 to Clement; U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,802 to Wang; U.S.Pat. No. 5,755,926 to Hankin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,593 toTourbollet et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,872 to Kurle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] We have discovered a process for increasing the amount of readilyavailable and inexpensive high lignin containing waste paper which canbe used in the manufacture of paper products exhibiting a targeted GEbrightness number. Our process comprises staining handsheets of incomingpulp from waste paper with phloroglucinol and then measuring the colorvalue of the stained handsheet using conventional MacBethSpectrophotometer to provide CIE L*, a* and b* color measurements andbrightness numbers. We have discovered a process for the manufacture ofabsorbent paper sheets from pulp derived from waste paper. This processcomprises preparing a pulp from recycle furnish to form secondary fiberand preparing an absorbent sheet from said secondary papermaking fiber,characterizing the initial color of said absorbent sheet, staining saidabsorbent sheet with a phloroglucinol stain and characterizing the colorof said absorbent sheet. The process depends on comparing the color ofthe stained sheet with initial color and selecting a target paperproduct based on the comparison. Advantageously the characterizationcomprises a parameter selected consisting of a lightness parameter, ared green parameter and a yellow blue parameter.

[0007] Suitably CIE L*, a*, b* and brightness values are used todetermine the percent groundwood in the feedstock. This is done byobtaining delta L*, a*, b* and brightness values as shown in FIGS. 1-3,12-15 and 19-20.

[0008] We have discovered that delta a*, delta b*, delta L* and deltabrightness values are suitable in determining untreated groundwoodcontent in the sheet and thus the suitability of the pulp forpredetermined commercial applications. Suitable delta a* range is 0-20,delta L* range is 0 to 28, delta b* range is −2 to 17 and deltabrightness range is 5 to 21 to produce 60 to 85 GE brightness pulp.

[0009] As stated above, we have discovered that unbleached groundwoodcontent (high lignin containing fiber) correlates very closely with thechange in the delta a*, delta b*, delta L* and delta brightness valueusing the spectrophotometer before and after staining of the handsheets.A delta a* value of less than 10, 10-20 and over 20 provide guidance asto the bleaching and deinking process to employ to obtain paper productsexhibiting GE brightness values of 60 to 85. For example, when the deltaa* value is 20 or above, the optimum use of the pulp is as unbleachedbrown stock or semi-bleached stock (having a GE brightness of about 40).When the unbleached groundwood content of the incoming pulp is very low,having a delta a* of 10 or less then a conventional hypochloritebleaching process is used to produce 60 to 85 GE brightness paperproducts. When the unbleached groundwood content of the incoming pulphas a delta a* of about 10-20, then a non-delignified bleaching processis used to produce a 60 to 85 GE brightness paper product. The followingTable 1 provides the approximate bleaching process selection based ondelta a*, delta b*, delta L*, and delta brightness values: TABLE 1Bleaching Process Selection Based on delta a*, delta b*, delta L*, anddelta brightness Bleaching Process delta a* delta b* delta L* deltabrightness Conventional Hypo <10 <7 <14 <21 Non-delignified 10-20 7-1714-28 21-31 Semi-bleaching >20 >17 >28 >31

[0010] Another aspect of our invention is to control the bleaching ofunbleached fibers to maintain the pulp fed to a deinking and bleachingprocess within the targeted range to achieve the predeterminedbrightness levels of the paper products.

[0011] In either application or in a combination of both applications,the primary advantage of our process is the speed with which the deltaa*, delta b*, delta L* and delta brightness results can be obtained,usually in ten minutes or less, 5-7 minutes being the normal range. Thespectrophotometric and staining process of this invention is able todistinguish between modified and unmodified lignins. TAPPI MethodT236-OM-99 lumps useful BCTMP lignins with unmodified lignins thuscausing higher processing costs. In addition, the aforementioned TAPPIMethod requires twenty minutes to be carried out while our process canbe carried out in 5 to 10 minutes.

[0012] It should be noted that the BCTMP processes shift the spectralresponse into the invisible region making their use acceptable withoutadditional bleaching to produce paper products having commerciallyacceptable brightness values.

[0013] In Table 2 the relationship between percent groundwood and deltaa*, b*, L* brightness are set forth. TABLE 2 Relationship BetweenPercent Groundwood and delta a*, b*, L* brightness % Delta Gmdwd KappaKappa L* a* b* Brightness Delta L* Delta a* Delta b* Brightness 0 0.40.4 94.82 −0.44 6.24 79.25 1.23 0.48 −2.08 5.52 0 0.4 94.66 −0.50 6.0779.04 1.47 0.47 −2.09 6.15 10 14.9 15.3 71.78 14.81 −5.24 47.76 21.9715.88 13.43 26.97 10 15.7 15.3 73.34 14.13 −4.76 49.86 20.64 15.41 12.9125.43 20 28.1 28.1 63.29 19.60 −7.26 37.00 28.86 20.55 17.56 32.00 2028.1 64.06 19.40 −7.35 38.13 28.23 20.47 17.62 31.19 30 42.2 42.2 59.3922.03 −8.73 33.02 31.36 22.53 19.12 33.09 30 42.2 60.48 21.94 −8.7934.43 31.04 22.78 18.50 34.00 40 55.7 55.7 55.15 24.68 −9.57 28.53 35.1125.22 20.64 35.93 40 55.7 56.68 24.13 −9.84 30.50 34.05 24.86 20.3435.50 50 69.6 70.15 52.44 26.43 −10.17 25.94 36.84 26.82 22.11 35.73 5070.7 70.15 54.37 26.21 −10.48 28.29 35.21 26.78 22.25 34.14 60 84.2 84.250.05 28.10 −10.56 23.72 38.69 28.49 22.86 36.59 60 84.2 51.45 27.49−10.85 25.34 37.98 28.19 22.73 36.71 70 103.9 103.9 48.29 29.25 −10.9122.18 40.07 29.59 23.32 37.34 70 103.9 48.93 29.36 −11.07 22.90 39.2929.83 23.63 36.24 80 124 124 46.48 30.72 −10.95 20.50 41.01 30.98 23.5237.29 80 124 47.40 30.30 −11.39 21.60 40.42 30.74 24.06 36.70 90 137 13744.33 31.88 −11.18 18.74 43.53 32.74 23.68 39.80 90 137 45.17 31.66−11.58 19.66 42.89 32.50 24.14 39.20 100 150.2 153.05 41.45 33.61 −11.2016.35 40.03 34.15 25.12 38.39 100 155.9 153.05 42.86 32.96 −11.69 17.7444.77 33.92 26.22 38.38

[0014] The TAPPI Method T236-OM-99 measures only gross lignin contentand thus under predicts brightness attainable with the pulp streamcontaining modified lignins. Thus, if the aforementioned TAPPI Method ofdetermining lignin content is used to control the amount of the highergrade waste papers added to the waste paper stream, more expensivehigher grades will be used than is necessary to achieve the targetedbrightness of the paper products. Our process avoids this costly wasteas the amount of high grade waste paper required to reach the targetedbrightness is predicted more accurately and the bias toward mixing intoo much high grade waste paper can be substantially reduced.

[0015] A very important aspect of our invention is that it enables amore precise control of finished stock brightness. Our process predictsthe finished product more accurately and therefore will usually resultin less variation of the finished stock brightness and higher usage ofthe groundwood containing waste paper to meet the same targetbrightness. Thus, resulting in greater savings and also facilitating theuse of waste paper which may not have been used to produce paperproducts having GE brightness values of 60 to 85.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]FIG. 1 is a graph illustrating the relationship between delta a*values and percent groundwood.

[0017]FIG. 2 is a graph illustrating the relationship between a* andpercent groundwood.

[0018]FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating the relationship between theestimated percent groundwood and delta a*.

[0019]FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the relationship between a* andreaction time. This graph demonstrates that a* value for handsheets canbe obtained within five minutes after the handsheet is treated withphloroglucinol.

[0020]FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating the relationship between delta a*and kappa numbers obtained using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99.

[0021]FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating the relationship between kappanumbers and percent total groundwood using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99.

[0022]FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating the relationship between delta a*and kappa number. It should be noted that TAPPI Method T236-OM-99includes in kappa numbers BCTMP treated groundwood fibers while thedelta a* excludes these fibers and other fibers which have beenchemically treated.

[0023]FIGS. 8 and 9 are graphs showing the relationship between thekappa number and percent of total groundwood.

[0024]FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating the relationship between a* andkappa numbers obtained by using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99.

[0025]FIG. 11 is a graph illustrating the relationship between delta b*and kappa numbers obtained by using TAPPI method T236-OM-99.

[0026]FIG. 12 is a graph illustrating delta b* versus percentgroundwood.

[0027]FIG. 13 is a graph illustrating b* versus percent groundwood.

[0028]FIG. 14 is a graph illustrating the relationship between b* andKappa numbers obtained by using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99.

[0029]FIG. 15 is a graph which illustrates the relationship betweendelta L* and percent groundwood.

[0030]FIG. 16 is a graph illustrating L* versus percent groundwood.

[0031]FIG. 17 is a graph illustrating the relationship between delta L*and Kappa numbers obtained by using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99.

[0032]FIG. 18 is a graph illustrating the relationship between L* andKappa number obtained by using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99.

[0033]FIG. 19 is a graph illustrating delta brightness and percentgroundwood.

[0034]FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating brightness and percent groundwood.

[0035]FIG. 21 is a graph illustrating the relationship between deltabrightness and Kappa numbers obtained by using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99;

[0036]FIG. 22 is a graph illustrating the relationship betweenbrightness and Kappa numbers obtained by using TAPPI Method T236-OM-99;

[0037]FIG. 23 is a graph illustrating transformed brightness versuspercent groundwood.

[0038]FIG. 24 is a graph illustrating normalized derivatives of L*, a*,b*, brightness, delta L*, delta a*, delta b* and delta brightness*.

[0039]FIG. 25 is a secondary fiber plant flow diagram.

[0040]FIG. 26 is a graph illustrating the relationship between delta a*and the kappa number.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] In recent years, the cost of waste paper has escalated. There islimited availability for good quality waste paper. The present inventionanswers a long felt need for utilizing waste paper having high lignin orgroundwood content. It also was determined that TAPPI Method T236-OM-99fails to recognize that modified lignins such as those created by theBCTMP processes do not need the rigorous deinking and bleachingregiments required of waste paper pulp having high groundwood content.The TAPPI Method also takes about 20 minutes for determining the amountof groundwood in waste paper pulp while in our process this is done inless than 10 minutes, usually 5 to 7 minutes. The claimed processovercomes all these disadvantages of the prior art groundwooddetermination methods and provides a fast and reliable method fordetermining the amount of chemically untreated groundwood fiber presentin the pulp being charged to the deinking and bleaching system.

[0042] We have discovered a process for the manufacture of absorbentpaper sheets from pulp derived from waste paper. This process comprisespreparing a pulp from recycle furnish to form secondary fiber andpreparing an absorbent sheet from said secondary papermaking fiber,characterizing the initial color of said absorbent sheet with aphloroglucinol stain and characterizing the color of said absorbentsheet. The process depends on comparing the color of the stained sheetwith the initial color and selecting a target paper product based on thecomparison. Suitably the characterization comprises a parameter selectedconsisting of lightness parameter, a red green parameter and a yellowblue parameter.

[0043] Suitable CIE L*, a*, b* and brightness values are used todetermine the percent groundwood in the feedstock. This is done byobtaining the delta L*, a*, b* and brightness values.

[0044] The delta a values versus percent groundwood are illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 3. The relationship between delta* and Kappa number is shownin FIG. 5. It should be noted that Kappa numbers using TAPPI MethodT236-OM-99 give a higher groundwood content since that method cannotdistinguish between chemically treated or untreated groundwood. TheKappa number is defined as follows in TAPPI Method T236-OM-99P:

[0045] The Kappa number is the volume (in millimeters) of 0.1N potassiumpermanganate solution consumed by one gram of moisture-free pulp theresults are corrected to 50% consumption of the permanganate added.

[0046] It should be noted that L*, a* and b* and brightness parametersare suitably measured using TAPPI Method T-524-OM-94. These are calledHunter color values. In the Hunter Color Scheme L, a and b designatecolor as follows:

[0047] L denotes lightness increasing from 0 for black to 100 forperfect white, a shows redness when plus, green when minus and zero forgrey, b represents yellowness when plus, blueness when minus and zerowhen grey.

[0048] The delta b* values versus percent groundwood are illustrated inFIG. 12. To obtain GE brightness values in the paper product of about 60to 85 the delta b* values should be in the range of about −2 to 17.

[0049] The delta L* values versus percent groundwood are illustrated inFIG. 15. To obtain GE brightness values in the paper product of about 60to 85 the delta L* values should be about 0 to 28.

[0050] The delta brightness values versus percent groundwood areillustrated in FIG. 19. To obtain GE brightness values in the paperproduct of about 60 to 85 the delta brightness value should be about 5to 21.

[0051] Our invention provides a rapid process for determining chemicallyuntreated groundwood in pulp derived from waste paper prior to it beingcharged to the deinking/bleaching system. In our process handsheets aremade from the pulp undergoing evaluation and staining these handsheetswith phloroglucinol stain This solution consists of 8.0 gramsphloroglucinol, dihydrate, 100 ml ethyl alcohol and 100 ml concentratedhydrochloric acid. Gretag MacBeth Color Eye 3100 spectrophotometer isused to measure the color value of the stained handsheet sample andcompare it to unstained handsheet sample. The MacBeth spectrophotometeris calibrated to provide CIE L*, a* and b* measurements. We havediscovered that chemically untreated groundwood content correlates veryclosely to the change or delta in the a*, L* and b* values obtainedusing the spectrophotometer before and after staining withphloroglucinol. In FIG. 4 the graph shows the relationship between a*and reaction time. From FIG. 4 it can be determined that reliable deltaa* values can be obtained within five minutes after staining withphloroglucinol.

[0052]FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate the correlation between percentchemically untreated groundwood and delta a*. Those values are veryimportant to the paper manufacturer since if the delta a* value is lessthan 10 then conventional hypobleaching processes may be used to produce60 to 85 GE brightness paper products. If the unbleached groundwoodcontent incoming pulps is in the medium range as indicated by an averagedelta a* of 10 to 20, then a non-delignified bleaching technique, suchas peroxide and/or hydrosulfide bleaching processes may be used toproduce the 60 to 85 GE brightness paper products. If the unbleachedgroundwood content in the incoming pulp is in the high range asindicated by a delta a* value of greater than about 20, then the pulpcan be used for semi-bleached or unbleached stock generally known asbrown stock. This same relationship holds for specific delta b*, deltaL* and delta brightness values. By utilizing the phloroglucinol stainingprocess and spectrophotometer analysis of the treated and untreatedhandsheets we obtain delta a*, b*, L* and brightness values which giveus control on what deinking/bleaching process to utilize. This, ofcourse, depends on the amount of chemically untreated groundwood in theincoming pulp. Alternatively, we can use this same information to blendpulps to maximize the amount of groundwood utilized to achieve a paperproduct having commercially acceptable brightness properties. 60 to 85GE brightness pulps are used to produce absorbent paper products such astissues.

[0053] Our invention includes a process for utilizing chemically treatedgroundwood in addition to untreated groundwood. Since our delta valuesdo not include chemically treated groundwood or groundwood which isderived from BCTMP treated waste paper. Thus, using TAPPI MethodT236-OM-99, the kappa values for groundwood obtained in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8overstate the amount of groundwood in the pulp since the chemicallytreated and BCTMP derived groundwood is reported as untreatedgroundwood. This reporting error results in the use of a more expensivewastepaper and deinking/bleaching process than would be required if ourclaimed process would be utilized to produce paper products exhibitingcommercially acceptable brightness. These values usually are a 60 to 85GE brightness value.

[0054]FIG. 25 shows the operation of the secondary fiber plant flowdiagram. Waste paper 100 is fed to pulper 101 and charged to drop tanks1 (102), 2 (103) and 3 (104). The ratio of the pulps from the three droptanks is combined into the blend chest 106. The delta a* oralternatively the delta L* or delta b* or delta brightness testing isconducted on samples coming from the blend chest at point 107. After thedelta a* or alternatively delta L* or delta b* or delta brightnessvalues are obtained, the deinking system 108 is adjusted for theseverity of ink removal treatment. Similarly, the severity of thebleaching system 109 is adjusted. The deinked and bleached pulp isstored in the finished stock tank 110 from which it is fed into thepaper making machines.

[0055] The relationship between delta a* and percent groundwood as shownin FIG. 6 was an exponential curve for 0 percent to 30 percentgroundwood range and a straight line for greater than 50 percentgroundwood. A possible explanation of this shape was that MacBethspectrophotometer mainly measures the color intensity of the surface ofphloroglucinol-stained handsheet. The rapid color development may beassigned principally to the fast reaction between the phloroglucinol andthe reactive lignin in the surface of the handsheet. Once most of thereactive lignin in the surface of the handsheet is saturated withphloroglucinol, the reaction slows down quickly and the relationshipbetween color intensity and groundwood content follows a linear functionwith a much lower slope than the initial stage. This surface phenomenaof the staining method may provide a better prediction of bleachabilityof the groundwood containing pulp than other lignin determinationmethods.

[0056] In one experiment the regular unbleached pulp had the delta a*ranged from 11 to 19 and averaged 13.5 in one deinking process. Thiscorresponds to a groundwood fiber content of 5% to 20%, averaging about8%. In the trial an improvement was made to control the pulp from theblend chest 106 having a delta a* value in the range of 16-18, and stillmaintained the same finished product brightness.

[0057] This corresponded to an increase in groundwood for fiber usagefrom 8% to about 15%.

[0058] It was observed that existing operations in one facility had agroundwood content of 4% to 13% in the wastepaper furmish. For reasonsof economy and raw material utilization the groundwood content should beincreased to about 15-20% when the deinked pulp from 108 is fed into thebleaching system 109 using Eopy bleach processes. This corresponds to adelta a* value of 16-18.

[0059] In another run the groundwood in waste paper was increased to17-25%. Thus, previously discarded waste paper could be utilized. Atthese higher groundwood levels still commercially preferred GEbrightness targets of greater than 60 were met.

[0060] The following is the procedure for the rapid determination ofgroundwood in handsheets:

[0061] Apparatus/Materials:

[0062] Drying Fan and Sample Stand, available from:

[0063] Georgia-Pacific

[0064] Neenah Technical Center

[0065] 920-729-8496

[0066] Gretag MacBeth Color Eye 3100 Spectrophotometer Settings:

[0067] Reflectance

[0068] Spectral Component Excluded

[0069] UV Component Excluded

[0070] Large Area View

[0071] Measurements with white body

[0072] Glass Plate 5″×5″×¼″

[0073] Timer

[0074] 1 Kg weight

[0075] Blotter Stock (Pulp Testing Paper), 8″×8″

[0076] Methanol

[0077] Phloroglucinol Stain Solution

[0078] 8.0 g Phloroglucinol, Dihydrate

[0079] 100 ml Ethyl Alcohol

[0080] 20 ml Concentrated Hydrochloric Acid

[0081] Notes:

[0082] Light sensitive, store in amber bottle.

[0083] Solution good for 2 months if protected from light and kept in asealed container.

[0084] Use extreme caution when using concentrated Hydrochloric Acid.

[0085] Specimen Preparation:

[0086] A 2 g Handsheet was used for testing

[0087] Procedure:

[0088] 1. Calibrate the MacBeth 3100.

[0089] 2. Place the handsheet over the sample port holding it in placewith the white body

[0090] 3. Take an initial color reading, recording the a* value.

[0091] 4. Set the timer for 5 minutes.

[0092] 5. Place the handsheet on the glass plate.

[0093] 6. Dispense 0.30 ml of the Phloroglucinol Stain Solution to thehandsheet about 2 inches from its edge.

[0094] 7. Start the timer.

[0095] 8. Let the stain spread on the handsheet for 30 seconds. (Note: A1.5″ diameter stain is needed to take the final a* reading.)

[0096] 9. Place the handsheet between two pieces of blotter stock andpress on the stained area with the 1-Kg weight for 5-10 seconds toremove excess stain.

[0097] 10. Remove the handsheet from between the blotter stock and hangit from the clip that is on the front of the drying fan. The stainedside should face the fan.

[0098] 11. After the 5 minutes is up, take a final a* reading of thestained area being sure that the stained portion of the handsheet coversthe entire sample port.

[0099] 12. the delta a* can be obtained by subtracting initial a* fromthe final a* reading.

[0100] 13. For additional repeats the sample glass should be cleanedwith methanol and a different portion of blotter stock should be used toremove the excess stain.

[0101] The estimated percent groundwood vs. delta a* is set forth inFIG. 3 and the formula derived from FIG. 3 shows that percentgroundwood=(0.8383+0.0504 delta a*)⁵.

[0102] Modifications to specific features illustrated above within thespirit and scope of the present invention, set forth in the appendedclaims, will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process for the manufacture of absorbent papersheets from pulp derived from waste paper said process comprising: (a)preparing a pulp from recycle furnish to form secondary papermakingfiber; (b) preparing an absorbent sheet from said secondary papermakingfiber; (c) characterizing the initial color of said absorbent sheet; (d)staining said absorbent sheet with a phloroglucinol stain; (e)characterizing the color of said absorbent sheet; and (f) comparing thecolor of said stained sheet with initial color and selecting a targetpaper product based on the comparison
 2. The process of claim 1, whereinthe characterization comprising a parameter selected consisting of alightness parameter, a red green parameter and yellow blue parameter. 3.The process of claim 1, wherein the groundwood percent range ispreselected.
 4. The process of claim 1, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotometric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE a* colormeasurements and determining delta a* values between the untreated andtreated sheets and using the delta a* value to select deinking andbleaching processes.
 5. The process of claim 1, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotometric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE L* colormeasurements and determining delta L* values between the untreated andtreated sheets and using the delta L* value to select deinking andbleaching processes.
 6. The process of claim 1, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotometric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE b* colormeasurements and determining delta b* values between the untreated andtreated sheets and using the delta b* value to select deinking andbleaching processes.
 7. The process of claim 1, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotmetric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE brightnessmeasurements determining the delta brightness values to select deinkingand bleaching processes.
 8. The process of claim 4, wherein the delta a*values are about 0 to
 20. 9. The process of claim 5, wherein the deltaL* values are about 0 to
 28. 10. The process of claim 6, wherein thedelta b* values are about −2 to
 17. 11. The process of claim 7, whereinthe delta brightness values are about 5 to
 21. 12. A method of makingabsorbent sheet from recycle furnish comprising: (a) pulping waste paperto form papermaking fiber; (b) preparing an absorbent sheet from saidsecondary papermaking fiber; (c) characterizing said absorbent sheet byway of analytical technique comprising applying a phloroglucinol theretoand determining the color thereof; and (d) based upon thecharacterization of step (c) selecting a target product for saidsecondary papermaking fiber.
 13. A process for increasing the amount ofinexpensive high lignin containing waste paper used as feedstock in themanufacture of paper products exhibiting GE brightness value of about 60to 85, said process comprising conducting a spectrophotometric analysisof handsheets made from waste paper feedstock before and after treatmentof the handsheets with phloroglucinol, the spectral analysis includingCIE a* color measurement and determining delta a* values between theuntreated and treated handsheets and using the delta a* values to selectdeinking and bleaching processes and controlling the amount of highlignin fiber feedstock which is to be utilized to produce absorbentpaper products exhibiting GE brightness of about 60 to
 85. 14. Theprocess of claim 13, wherein the delta a* values between untreated andtreated handsheets are determined in less than 10 minutes.
 15. Theprocess of claim 13, wherein the delta a* is less than
 20. 16. Theprocess of claim 15, wherein the delta a* is between 10 and
 20. 17. Theprocess of claim 15, wherein the delta a* is less than
 10. 18. Theprocess of claim 13, wherein the GE brightness value is about 60 to 85.19. A process for tailor blending high lignin waste paper pulp withother waste paper pulp to produce paper products having predeterminedcommercially acceptable brightness properties comprising conducting aspectrophotometric analysis of handsheets from pulps derived fromvarious waste paper sources before and after treatment withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE a* colormeasurements and determining the delta a* values of the untreated andtreated handsheets and using the delta a* values in blending thecombination of waste paper pulp for appropriate deinking and bleachingtreatment and to produce paper having the desired brightness whileincluding the maximum amount of the low cost high lignin containinggroundwood fiber.
 20. The process of claim 19, wherein the groundwoodfiber comprises substantial amounts of bleached chemithermochemical pulp(BCTMP) fiber.
 21. The process of claim 13 or claim 19 wherein the deltaa* values obtained determine the bleaching and deinking process used.22. The process of claim 21, when delta a* values exceed 20, the pulp isdeinked but unbleached or semibleached.
 23. The process of claim 21,when the delta a* values are in the range of about 10 to 20, a peroxide,hydrosulfide or a combination of both processes are used to deink andbleach the pulp to produce feedstock for the manufacture of paperproducts which exhibit a GE brightness of at least
 60. 24. The processof claim 23, wherein the paper products exhibit a GE brightness of about65-80.
 25. The process of claim 21, when the delta a* values are 10 orbelow, a hypo deinking bleaching process is used to produce feedstockfor the manufacture of paper products exhibiting a GE brightness of atleast
 60. 26. The process of claim 25, wherein the paper productsexhibiting a GE brightness of about 65 to
 80. 27. An economical highspeed process for increasing the amount of inexpensive and readilyavailable high lignin containing waste paper used in the manufacture ofpaper products exhibiting commercially acceptable brightness, saidprocess comprising conducting in less than ten minutes aspectrophotometric analysis of handsheets from waste paper pulp beforeand after treatment of the handsheets with phloroglucinol, thespectrophotometric analysis including CIE a* color measurement anddetermining the delta a* values between the untreated and treatedhandsheets and using the delta a* values to select the deinking andbleaching process and controlling the amount of high lignin fiberfeedstock which can be utilized to produce paper products havingpredetermined commercially acceptable brightness properties.
 28. Theprocess of claim 27, wherein the delta a* values obtained determine thebleaching and deinking process.
 29. The process of claim 28, when deltaa* values are in the range of about 10 to 20, a peroxide, hydrosulfideor a combination of both processes are used to deink and bleach the pulpto produce feedstock for the manufacture of paper products havingacceptable brightness.
 30. The process of claim 29, when the delta a*values are 10 or below a hypo deinking bleaching process is used toproduce feedstock for the manufacture of paper products havingcommercially acceptable brightness.
 31. The process of claim 27, whereinthe delta a* values are obtained within 7 minutes.
 32. A rapid processfor determining groundwood in pulp derived from waste paper, saidprocess comprising conducting a spectrophotometric analysis ofhandsheets made from said pulp before and after treatment of thehandsheets with phloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE a*color measurements and determining delta a* values between the untreatedand treated handsheets.
 33. The process of claim 32, wherein delta a*values below 10 indicate that the pulp is of very high quality.
 34. Theprocess of claim 32, wherein the delta a* values of 10-20 indicate thatthe pulp is suitable for production of paper products exhibiting a GEbrightness value of at least
 76. 35. The process of claim 32, whereinthe delta a* values in excess of 20 indicate that the paper productsproduced should be unbleached stock, known as brown stock, orsemi-bleached stock.
 36. The process of claim 32, wherein bleachedchemithermal mechanical pulp (BCTMP) fibers are not analyzed asuntreated groundwood and included in delta a* values.
 37. The process ofclaim 32, wherein the delta a* values are determined within 10 minutes.38. The process of claim 37, wherein the delta a* values are determinedin about 5 to 7 minutes.
 39. An economical high speed process forincreasing the amount of inexpensive and high lignin containing wastepaper used in the manufacture of paper products exhibiting commerciallyacceptable brightness, said process comprising conducting in less thanten minutes a spectrophotometric analysis of handsheets from waste paperpulp before and after treatment of the handsheets with phloroglucinol,the spectrophotometric analysis including CIE L* color measurements anddetermining the delta L* values between the untreated and treatedhandsheets and using the delta L* values to select the deinking andbleaching process and controlling the amount of high lignin fiberfeedstock which can be utilized to produce paper products havingpredetermined commercially acceptable brightness properties.
 40. Aneconomical high speed process for increasing the amount of inexpensiveand high lignin containing waste paper used in the manufacture of paperproducts exhibiting commercially acceptable brightness, said processcomprising conducting in less than ten minutes a spectrophotometricanalysis of handsheets from waste paper pulp before and after treatmentof the handsheets with phloroglucinol, the spectrophotometric analysisincluding CIE b* color measurements and determining the delta b* valuesbetween the untreated and treated handsheets and using the delta b*values to select the deinking and bleaching process and controlling theamount of high lignin fiber feedstock which can be utilized to producepaper products having predetermined commercially acceptable brightnessproperties.
 41. The process of claim 39, wherein the delta L* values areabout 0 to
 28. 42. The process of claim 40, wherein the delta b* valuesare about −2 to
 17. 43. An economical high speed process for increasingthe amount of inexpensive high lignin containing waste paper used in themanufacture of paper products exhibiting commercially acceptablebrightness, said process comprising conducing in less than ten minutes aspectrophotometric analysis of handsheets from waste paper pulp beforeand after treatment of the handsheets with phloroglucinol thespectrophotometric analysis including CIE brightness measurements anddetermining the delta brightness values between the untreated andtreated handsheets and using the delta brightness values to select thedeinking and bleaching process and controlling the amount of high ligninfiber feedstock which can be utilizing to produce paper products havingpredetermined commercially acceptable brightness properties.
 44. Theprocess of claim 43, wherein the delta brightness values are about 5 to21.
 45. The process of claim 2, wherein the groundwood percent range ispreselected.
 46. The process of claim 2, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotometric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE a* colormeasurements and determining delta a* values between the untreated andtreated sheets and using the delta a* value to select deinking andbleaching processes.
 47. The process of claim 2, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotometric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE L* colormeasurements and determining delta L* values between the untreated andtreated sheets and using the delta L* value to select deinking andbleaching processes.
 48. The process of claim 2, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotometric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE b* colormeasurements and determining delta b* values between the untreated andtreated sheets and using the delta b* value to select deinking andbleaching processes.
 49. The process of claim 2, said process comprisingconducting a spectrophotometric analysis of absorbent sheets made fromwaste paper feedstock before and after treatment of the sheets withphloroglucinol, the spectral analysis including CIE brightnessmeasurements determining the delta brightness values to select deinkingand bleaching processes.
 50. The process of claim 46, wherein the deltaa* values are about 0 to
 20. 51. The process of claim 47, wherein thedelta L* values are about 0 to
 28. 52. The process of claim 48, whereinthe delta b* values are about −2 to
 17. 53. The process of claim 49,wherein the delta brightness values are about 5 to 21.